Project in Progress: Downtown Loft is Coming to Life!

Maple tree stump that Silent Rivers will include in the design of a downtown loft remodelLast month we featured Part 1 of this Project in Progress – a unique renovation of a downtown Des Moines loft.

Not wanting to keep our faithful readers in the dark for long, here are some updates on the progress.

 

The Metamorphosis

If you recall, we integrated a real tree stump from a silver maple into the oversized kitchen island, with this piece emerging through the loft’s stainless counter. It all started with this “little” piece of nature, which was acclimating to an indoor environment by hanging out in my office, sometimes acting as a leaning post for visitors.

Silent Rivers artisans Tom Bloxham and Alex Schlepphorst were tasked to clean, cut and shape the tree stump to a perfectly organic outline.  We left the bark on the tree, but the bottom and the top end grain received many rounds of sanding and smoothing of the surface and then was treated with several coats of clear epoxy. The result is beautiful and astonishing when the natural outline of the stump is viewed through the plane of the steel countertop.

 

Here is a quick video of Tom prepping the maple tree stump surface in the Silent Rivers woodshop.


Alex Schlepphorst of Silent Rivers has made the precise cutout for the silver maple tree stump that will support the 16 foot island in a downtown Des Moines loft kitchen remodeled by Silent Rivers

An important step completed in our shop – dry fitting the 16-foot long plywood base of the island counter with a precise cutout to accommodate our tree stump.

 

Installation of a 16 foot stainless steel countertop supported by a maple tree stump in a downtown Des Moines loft remodel by Silent Rivers

View of the installed countertop with the maple tree stump integrated in – a perfect fit. We kept the protective film on the stainless surface until the renovation is complete.

 

The Functional and Aesthetic Elements

Pendant LED lights industrial loft style

Over the island we selected two pendant LED lights made of ¼-inch row steel with visible spot welds – very fitting to our industrial loft concept.

 

industrial stainless steel trough sink with two faucets in downtown Des Moines loft bathroom by Silent Rivers

A custom-made oversized stainless steel trough sink in the master bath was installed over custom cabinetry. For the backsplash, we used gray tile to echo the exposed concrete floors. Two minimalist wall faucets in polished chrome provide a desired contrast.

 

birch plywood shelves around concrete column in downtown Des Moines loft remodel by Silent Rivers

The loft has several exposed round concrete columns of the building structure. We counterbalanced the rough texture of the concrete with floating birch plywood shelves and a polished stainless steel counter.

 

Closet in progress in downtown Des Moines loft being remodeled by Silent Rivers will have pull down rods

An enlarged closet space will feature pull-down rods and lower hanging rods, along with custom shelving in the back.

 

Shower with large gray tile

This simple gray oversized tile was installed in the shower. Connecting the color to the exposed concrete floor and also stacking the tile vertically visually enlarges the shower space. Aligning the finishing elements is something Silent Rivers does just by default. It is the small and often unnoticed details that make the final project perfect.

 

Floating entertainment center in downtown Des Moines loft being remodeled by Silent Rivers features birch and steel

The entertainment center has a floating storage unit next to two flat sheets of steel. The contrast between the black steel elements and the fine birch box is reminiscent of the tree bark, conversing with the reflection of the stainless countertop in the kitchen.

Keep posted for a final reveal of this amazing loft renovation, coming soon!

 

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View the final results of this downtown loft remodel »


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Downtown Loft Warms Up: Barn Wood, Birch and Steel Fireplace

Downtown Loft Warms Up: Barn Wood, Birch and Steel Fireplace

 

Project in Progress: Industrial Greets Nature in a Loft Transformation

Project in Progress: Industrial Greets Nature in a Loft Transformation

 

Project in Progress: A Downtown Loft Renovation Unites Industrial & Organic Elements

Project in Progress: A Downtown Loft Renovation Unites Industrial & Organic Elements

 

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